Paper-folding mechanism



(No Model.)

5 Sheets--Sheet l.

A. F. MADDEN. PAPER FOLDING MECHANISM.

Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. P. MADDEN.

, PAPER FOLDING MECHANISM.

No. 324,034. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets+-Sheet 3.

A. F. MADDEN. PAPER FOLDING MECHANISM. No. 324,034. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

4ZFB/ (No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. P. MADDEN.

PAPER FOLDING MECHANISM.

No. 324,034. Patented Aug.l1, 1885.

a mfw/ Adv/ (N0 Mode'l.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

I A. F. MADDEN.

PAPER FOLDING MECHANISM. No. 324,034. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

ALBERT FRANKLIN MADDEN, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND OSCAR EDWIN MADDEN,

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PAPER-=FOLDING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,034, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed May 23, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT FRANKLIN MADDEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have made an invention of an Improve ment in Paper-Folding Mechanism, of whichthe following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to the folding of paper by the action of continuously-revolving rolls, either in connection with a printing-press or other mechanism through which the paper passes continuously in an uncut web to said rolls to be cut into sheetsby them, or as an independent apparatus for folding sheets of paper; and my invention consists in certain combinations of mechanism specifically pointed out in the claims at the end of this schedule.

In order that persons skilled in the art mayunderstand, make, and use my apparatus, I will proceed to describe the same as constructed by me, referring to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the frame which supports the folding-rolls and mechanism for supplying a continuous web of paper to them. Fig. 2 is a top view of the frame and rolls B B, belts b b, and the guide D D for directing the web of paper and shaping it before entering between rolls M N 0. Fig. 3 is a vertical face view of guide D D at the position g nearest the rolls M N. Fig. 4 isa top view of the rolls M N O and guide D D, showing the paper a held in the jaws f f just after the tooth R has revolved away from them and the paper. Fig. 5 shows the shape of the cams Z Z, with the screws for holding the same in a fixed position after proper adjustment. Fig. 6 shows the folding-rolls MN in three different positions, the paper a entering between the rolls M N in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is avertical central section through rolls M and N and shafts 1 2, looking toward the said rolls from the end of D D, near the small roll The folding-rolls M, N, and O are firmly attached to shafts 1 2 3, respectively, and are fitted to revolve in hearings in the frame F E. The bearings in which the roll M and the roll 0 revolve are slightly elongated, to give sufficient play in the frame E E to permit the springs P P, acting against the loose rings 8 10 12 11, to keep the surfaces of rolls M and O in contact with the surface of roll N or with paper passing between the said rolls. The roll N on the shaft 2 has hearings in rings 13 and 14, adj ustablyfitted in the bars 15 and16, Fig.

,5, one, 15, bolted to the top of frame E, and

the other to the under side of frame E. The lower flange of 13 and the upper flange of 14 project through the bars toward the end of roll N, and each is cut out to give a bearing for the end of the roll. The remaining portion of the flanges is shaped as shown at Z, Figs. 5 and 6, so as to form cams. The ends of the remaining part of the ring-flange are tapered, as shown, to permit the ends t t of the tongue 16, after entering the cut-away portion, to be forced outward and remain in line with the circumference of the roll, while the ends 25 i revolve with the roll N around the said fixed cams Z Z. The tonguet thus is caused to move to and from the shaft 2 on a radial line, for the purpose of forcing the spring-jaws ff apart and to permit them at the proper time to come to gether by means of the springs f", placed behind them in contact with the walls of the recess in the roll. The tongue t is tapered, as shown, in orderto enable it to spread the jaws ff. The face of the tongue is curved to correspond to the circle of the face of roll N, so that when the tongue t is at its extreme outward position, and its ends 1 t in contact with the outer circumference of the cams Z Z, the points of f f,with the face of the tongue tand the paper grasped between them, fills up the opening in the circinnference of N and completes the circle. The rolls M and N revolve together, and are so adjusted that a tooth, R, coming in contact with the face of the tongue t, forces it inward toward shaft 2, which permitsthe spring-jaws ff to move toward each other and engage with the paper a,carried between the rolls and into the recess in rollNby tooth It, so that when tooth It, as it revolves, recedes from between thej aws, the loop or dolr ble of the paper is seized by the jaws, retained, and carried around with the roll N until the ends it t of tongue t hit the taper of the cams Z Z, which spreads the jaws f f outward and releases the paper from their grasp. This action occurs at the moment the folded paper has entered between rolls N and O and has been caught by these rolls. The roll N is provided with a groove, at, out in its circumference parallel with its axis, and roll M is provided with a knife, or, which, as it revolves with its roll, comes in contact with the paper between the rolls and cuts it into sheets while entering the groove in of roll N.

In Fig. 5 is shown one of thebearing blocks let for the end of the shaft 2, formed of a block of metal, upon which the cam Z is located for operating the tongueZ forforeing the grippingjaws apart and to release the paper. These blocks are constructed as shown in said figure, and are provided with the set-screw for securing them in position and permitting them to be adjusted so that the tongue will be projected at the proper time.

A is a roll on which the paper is held. It is fixed to a shafthaving bearings in the frame 1*]. B and Bare rolls the shafts of which have also bearings in the frame E.

G C are two narrow rollers having bearings on the ends of the bars 0 0, respectively, and are adjustably connected with hubs (Z (Z on rods X X, the ends of which latter are held in frame E 1*]. To X and X are also attached arms cZ, carrying tightening-rollers (Z (Z. The rolls 15 B have grooves cut in their circumferenees,and in the middle of their length, deep enough to hold a belt, 6 and I), respectively. Belt 1/ passes under roller (1, around 0, under 0, and around B. Belt 1) passes over 6, around a, over (Z, and around B.

D D is a guide for the paper made of two thicknesses of metal so shaped as to double the continuous band of paper into a loop or U when it reaches the roll 1 D D, Fig. 3, is the lowerthickness of metal forming a table for the paper to rest on after leaving the rolls 1 B.

D D is the upper thickness of metal under which the paper passes. The upper and lower plates, D and D, are gradually shaped or bent upward until. the roll 5 is reached, when they stand vertical, and from the rollers c c to the end they are substantially parallel, so that the paper will be formed into a U shape. The lower thickness, D D, of the guide is out through to make a path for the guiding'belts b b and roller 0, and the upper thickness, D D, is also cut out to allow the roller 0 to pass through, carrying the belt I). The upper thickness, D, is extended toward the roll 6 from roller c,and the opening between D and D is somewhat enlarged to aid in guiding the paper between D and D.

All the rolls and rollers and belts are intended to move with the same circumferential speed, and they are all connected to one prime motor or pulley, as seen at B". The gear h meshes into it 011 shaft 1-, held in bearings s 8. Gear K meshes into gear Z1 on shaft r. Gear Z meshes into Z on shaft 2, roll N. Gears N, M, and O mesh into each other, and are all driven by gear Z.

The operation is as follows: The paper from roll A havingbeen entered between rolls B and IB, is carried by the belts Z) b,whicli run in the same direction near togetherto thetop of plate 1), the belts I) and I) serving to keep the paper central and true as regards the plate 1) and rolls B B. The paper, as it passes through the guide D D to the small roll g, is formed into a U shape. It is then entered between the rolls M and N. As the rolls revolve, the serrated knife it comes against the paper, enters groove m, and begins to cut a sheet from the paper; but it is not entirely out free until the rolls have seized the incoming paper hehind the knil'e. The rolls continuing to draw forward the paper, the tooth It comes in con tact with it, pushes it against the tongue t of roll N, and between thejaws f f. As the tooth and depressed paper follow the tongue 1, and the ends of thelatterdrop into the openings in cams Z Z, thejawsff force the paper firmly against the tooth It,and when thetooth R in its revolution leaves the roll N the two thicknesses of doubled paper are held firmly in the grip of the jaws,and are carried around into the bite of the rolls N and 0. At this point the knife a has again revolved into contact with the paper, and the sheet is out free from the continuous web. After the sheet has been carried between rolls N and 0 it is de livered folded to a flyer, or is otherwise dis posed of.

My apparatus is constructed with positive motions, is positive in its operation, so that paper is folded much more rapidly than is possible by the use of apparatus havingtapes and belts for guides. It also is very reliable and not liable to get out of order.

My folding-rolls and mechanism can be readily used without the guides D D and rolls B 1?. In such case the paper should be introduced by hand or from a table, the first rolls being placed in a horizontal position, and if more than two or more folds aredesired, aduplieate set of folding-rolls should be geared up with the first.

Having now fully described my folding mechanism,what I claim as my invention is- 1. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of two cooperating rolls, one of which is provided with grippingjaws having a movable tongue between them, and the other of which is provided with a tooth which operates to insert a fold of paper between the gripping-jaws and at the same time displace the movable tongue and permit the jaws to close upon the fold of paper upon its withdrawal, substantial] y as described.

2. Inapaper-tolding machine, the combination of two co-operating rolls, one of which is provided with gripping-jaws having a movable tongue between them, and a device, sub stantially as described, for projecting said tongue, and the other of which is provided with a tooth which operates to insert a fold of paper between the gripping-jaws and at the same time displace the movable tongue and permit the jaws to close upon the fold of paper upon its withdrawal, substantially as de scribed.

3. In a paperfolding machine having rolls arranged to revolve together and advance paper pressed between them, the combination of one roll provided with jaws and a tongue, and held between them by revolving out of eona cam whichadvancesthetongue between said tact with said jaws, all constructed and ar- 10 jaws to release their hold of the double of paranged to operate substantially in the manner per between them, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

5 with another roll provided with a tooth re- ALBERT FRANKLIN MADDEN.

volving with it, arranged to throw back the lVitnesses: said tongue and press a double of paper into WILLIAM (3. HICKS, the bite of the jaws and leave a fold of paper JOHN E. ELMENDORF. 

